After hosting our first farm stand celebration of the season on July 31st, we would like to deeply thank everyone who came down and made it a success! Without the numerous RBAC staff, volunteers, performers, caterers—and most importantly, our visitors, none of this would have been possible!

When people came down to receive their fresh produce that Saturday, they also had the opportunity to participate in a wide array of activities located throughout the space. Not only was this the first farm stand celebration this year, but this was also the first time a public event had ever been held in our new building, also known as the Food Innovation Center (FIC). In one room, there were games like Jenga and Connect 4 set up for children (and adults!) to enjoy. 

Walk over to the room right next to it, and there you would’ve been presented with a stage area where three talented groups performed amazing Somali dances, Ethiopian dances, and tap dancing. RBAC’s own Fatima Kabba recited some of her beautiful poetry as well that she wrote herself! This was all accompanied by delicious Somali and Mexican food, along with a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony. Last but not least, Nurturing Roots Farm provided us with an awesome smoothie bike where people got to make their own drinks using ingredients like blueberries and kale from our own stand!

This event also gave community members a chance to check out the new property and the RBAC gardens through in-depth tours, which were offered for the first time ever. Needless to say, we hit a lot of significant milestones on this day and once again are incredibly grateful for everyone who was part of it all. Stay on the lookout for more celebrations like this in the future months, and most importantly, come down every Saturday from 10-12pm to pick up your own free, fresh produce from local farmers!